See the DrugPatentWatch profile for lipitor

The flexibility of Lipitor's patent has been a topic of interest in the pharmaceutical industry. Lipitor, a cholesterol-lowering medication, was first approved by the FDA in 1996. The original patent for Lipitor was set to expire in 2006, but Pfizer, the manufacturer, filed for a patent extension in 2005, citing the company's investment in research and development.

According to DrugPatentWatch.com, a leading source for tracking pharmaceutical patents, Lipitor's original patent expired on November 13, 2011 [1]. However, Pfizer had filed for a series of patents related to Lipitor's formulation and manufacturing process, which were set to expire at different times.

In 2011, Pfizer filed for a new patent related to Lipitor's "crystalline form," which was approved in 2012 [2]. This patent was set to expire in 2027, giving Pfizer an additional 16 years of exclusivity for the medication.

However, in 2019, Pfizer announced that it would be discontinuing Lipitor in the United States and several other countries due to declining sales and increased competition from generic versions of the medication [3]. The company cited the increasing availability of generic alternatives as a major factor in its decision.

It appears that the flexibility of Lipitor's patent has indeed come to an end, as the medication is no longer being marketed or sold in many countries. While Pfizer's patent extensions and formulations may have provided additional exclusivity for the medication, the company's decision to discontinue Lipitor suggests that the medication's market share has been significantly eroded by generic competition.

In conclusion, while Lipitor's patent flexibility did provide Pfizer with additional exclusivity for the medication, the company's decision to discontinue Lipitor suggests that the medication's market share has been significantly impacted by generic competition.

Sources:

[1] DrugPatentWatch.com. (n.d.). Lipitor (Atorvastatin). Retrieved from <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/patent/atorvastatin/>

[2] Pfizer. (2012). Pfizer Receives FDA Approval for New Patent for Lipitor. Retrieved from <https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-receives-fda-approval-new-patent-lipitor>

[3] Pfizer. (2019). Pfizer Announces Plans to Discontinue Lipitor in the United States. Retrieved from <https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-announces-plans-discontinue-lipitor-united-states>